Labelling of drugs and poisons

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Poisons and drugs which are sold or supplied (ie. where there
is a transfer of ownership) are subject to standards and guidelines. These
poisons and drugs are substances listed in schedules of the
`Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons' (SUSDP)
produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Agricultural chemicals are subject to the Code of Practice for Labelling
Agricultural Chemical Products and Code of Practice for Labelling
Home Garden and Domestic Pest Control Products produced by the Australian
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Council (available from the AGPS).
Both are referenced by the National Registration Authority (see 0).

Guidelines are provided for the labelling, description and packaging,
as well as controls for the advertising, supply and storage and, for some
substances, the permitted level of impurities. These guidelines are adopted
by 13 State and Territory-based legislation and forms part of the National
Commission's requirements for the workplace labelling of hazardous substances
(see 3.2).

The labelling of poisons and drugs is more fully detailed in the appendix
beginning page 408.

* SUSDP labelling for industrial chemicals defers to workplace labelling
as defined in the National Commission's Guidance Note.

Purpose

Labelling requirements for poisons and drugs are outlined
in Appendix 9. There are in addition and generally independent
of any other requirements such as workplace labels (3) and
transport labels (30.4.2.1).

Labelling is a means for manufacturers and suppliers to communicate
to users about suitability, safe use, applicability, storage, disposal,
first aid and other emergency information.

Therefore, such labelling is used before;

Purchase to indicate;

suitability for intended use;

safety for intended application;

protection advice (eg. personal protective equipment); and

amounts required.

Use to indicate;

protective measures (ventilation, respirators etc.);

method of preparation;

amounts required; and

method of application.

Application to indicate;

location;

timing; and

safety measures.

Storage to indicate;

location;

conditions; and

method.

< Disposal to indicate;

methods or arrangements (product and container).

Safety and First Aid to indicate;

hazard warning statements;

action statements;

protection clothing and equipment;

after use actions; and

First Aid on exposure

* Farm chemicals.

Avcare (formerly the Australian Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals
Council) has produced the Code of Practice for Labelling of Veterinary
Chemical Products which provides guidance to State Legislation. (AGPS
Cat. No 89 1607 6).

In many States it is legislated that farm chemicals must be used in
terms of the information provided on the registered label for the product.

* Poisons and drugs, (in addition to being subject to specific poisons
and drugs labelling), are required to be kept in specified containers.
Containers to be transported are subject to the requirements of transport
containers of dangerous goods (30.3).